Secular people often make giving a solitary activity at the end of the year, one that feels like a sacrifice. That’s the wrong way to think about giving back. We learned a lot from churches and temples and the way they turn giving into an enjoyable, uplifting social activity. Our profile of a master pastor at a mega-church, Bill Hybels, reveals some of the magic he employs. We all are social animals and when we do things with a group of people we like, the activity becomes more fun.

So form a book club and engage in a few volunteer or giving activities together—or link your book club to Book Clubs for Change, bookclubs4change.org. Choose a need in your community or an area of the world that you all care about. Then choose a topic and an organization you might work with. Or maybe consider an on-location trip to the area and meet some of the people you want to help?

Or join a chapter of Dining for Women, which is one of the secular organizations that borrows from the religious notion of fellowship and joyous giving for a cause. DFW has guests bring a pot luck dish to a host's home and then they all donate the money they would spend at a restaurant to a chosen cause empowering women worldwide. Some groups have a subcommittee screen a list of finalists and the group votes on a final selection. In A Path Appears, we list some other great organizations—there’s even one called Beer for Books—that make giving a social and fun occasion.

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At least it will make the transition of this site being shut down, much easier knowing nothing wouldve changed. We would still have the same tired old bickering going on...if it was still up and running! But....i am glad for the friends ive made here and will always stay in touch with!

Seems there was a young soldier, who, just before battle, told his sergeant that he didn't have a rifle.

"That's no problem, son," said the sergeant. "Here, take this broom. Just point it at the Germans, and go 'Bangety Bang Bang'."

"But what about a bayonet, Sarge?" asked the young (and gullible) recruit.

The sergeant pulls a piece of straw from the end of the broom, and attaches it to the handle end. "Here, use this... just go, 'Stabity Stab Stab'."

The recruit ends up alone on the battlefield, holding just his broom. Suddenly, a German soldier charges at him.

The recruit points the broom. "Bangety Bang Bang!" The German falls dead. More Germans appear. The recruit, amazed at his good luck, goes "Bangety Bang Bang! Stabity Stab Stab!" He mows down the enemy by the dozens.

Finally, the battlefield is clear, except for one German soldier walking slowly toward him. "Bangety Bang Bang! shouts the recruit.

I meant everywhere...little imps trashing threads on chat rolls everywhere. Turdy little people nit even interested in the news trashing news blogs like little children using little words. People never hearing of Werner Von Braun trashing UFO blog sites. And some of them drive cars.

Earlier, I told a personal anecdote about Arnold Swarzenegger knocking me down while jogging down the street during the time "True Lies" was being filmed. He apologized, then extended his hand to help me up.

Well i cant speak for anyone else all i can say is "I am fed up to my eyeballs with mean-azz people!" It seems like thats all ive dealt with almost my whole life and im sick and tired of it. Im pretty sure i wasnt born to be abused whether its verbal, mental, emotional or physical. And im DAMN freakin tired of it.

We *are* supposed to turn the other cheek when we are insulted. But only if we are willing to also follow the law regarding the speedy execution of known raypists. Cherry picking is not allowed. It's all for or all against. We who straddle the fence are in the most danger.

Guilty of posting lists; I did it last night, and you did it today on the Innovation blog.

January 8, 2015 at 8:43 pm |

chri§§y

Thats exactly what i was talking about @ philip! Just because the previous thread is too long for me to post on doesnt mean i cant read the filth directed at me. And yea @ banasy im learning that also.

It's hard for a man to be kind when he sees crooked political and religious leaders not only fooling the masses and allowing them to be swindled by major banks and corporations, but also misleading them into thinking that somehow God is on the side of the Israeli MOSSAD. Who are in fact paid assassins.

One famous man became so filled with righteous indignation at the sight of Jew bankers swindling people he took a whip to them! And became very famous for doing so. Yet the huddled masses called him crazy.

And those were who i meant also @ philip! Havent you read the beginnings of those long copy/paste lists? Total filth! And they have the 3 of us, names attached. Too much sparing the rod on that individual. I have a feeling he shoulda had his azz beat some when he was growing up. Teach him some manners!

That "person" isnt fatherless @ philip! He has a rich daddy who apparantly just let him get away with everything! Spoiled brat is what he is! And theres just no excuse except laziness on the part of his parents.

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